Before deploying AI across a business, companies must first harmonize data definitions, especially after mergers. When different units call a "raw lead" something different, AI models cannot function reliably. This foundational data work is a critical prerequisite for moving beyond proofs-of-concept to scalable AI solutions.
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Companies struggle with AI not because of the models, but because their data is siloed. Adopting an 'integration-first' mindset is crucial for creating the unified data foundation AI requires.
Before implementing AI, organizations must first build a unified data platform. Many companies have multiple, inconsistent "data lakes" and lack basic definitions for concepts like "customer" or "transaction." Without this foundational data consolidation, any attempt to derive insights with AI is doomed to fail due to semantic mismatches.
Marketing leaders pressured to adopt AI are discovering the primary obstacle isn't the technology, but their own internal data infrastructure. Siloed, inconsistently structured data across teams prevents them from effectively leveraging AI for consumer insights and business growth.
A major hurdle for enterprise AI is messy, siloed data. A synergistic solution is emerging where AI software agents are used for the data engineering tasks of cleansing, normalization, and linking. This creates a powerful feedback loop where AI helps prepare the very data it needs to function effectively.
Companies struggle to get value from AI because their data is fragmented across different systems (ERP, CRM, finance) with poor integrity. The primary challenge isn't the AI models themselves, but integrating these disparate data sets into a unified platform that agents can act upon.
The primary reason multi-million dollar AI initiatives stall or fail is not the sophistication of the models, but the underlying data layer. Traditional data infrastructure creates delays in moving and duplicating information, preventing the real-time, comprehensive data access required for AI to deliver business value. The focus on algorithms misses this foundational roadblock.
For tools like Harvey AI, the primary technical challenge is connecting all necessary context for a lawyer's task—emails, private documents, case law—before even considering model customization. The data plumbing is paramount and precedes personalization.
Research shows employees are rapidly adopting AI agents. The primary risk isn't a lack of adoption but that these agents are handicapped by fragmented, incomplete, or siloed data. To succeed, companies must first focus on creating structured, centralized knowledge bases for AI to leverage effectively.
According to Salesforce's AI chief, the primary challenge for large companies deploying AI is harmonizing data across siloed departments, like sales and marketing. AI cannot operate effectively without connected, unified data, making data integration the crucial first step before any advanced AI implementation.
Many companies focus on AI models first, only to hit a wall. An "integration-first" approach is a strategic imperative. Connecting disparate systems *before* building agents ensures they have the necessary data to be effective, avoiding the "garbage in, garbage out" trap at a foundational level.
